321 



NOTE 



Proliferation in Opuntia dillenik 



While making some observations on the prickly pear of this place 

 (Opuntia dillenii) I came across an abnormality in the flower-bearing 

 joint of the plant which consists of a young fruit bearing two smaller 

 fruits one en either side developing from the areolae near the scar of 

 the perianth leaves. 



This abnormality which is a case of proliferation has been record- 

 ed by Britton and Rose* for some other species of Opuntia e.g., O. 

 arbuscula, O. fulgida, O. decumbens, O. vulgaris, etc. and in Pereskia 

 sacharosa. Several bushes of O. dillenii were examined by me for more 

 instances of this malformation and as none were found it appears to be 

 a rare phenomenon in this species. 



I kept the specimen under observation in expectation of its be- 

 coming more prolific but unfortunately after one month the bush was 

 cut by some one as it was on the road side and in a state of over- 

 growth and I could content myself only with the broken joints. 



The abnormality is here recorded as being part of a wide pheno- 

 menon characteristic of the Cactaceae and the frequency with which 

 it occurs in certain species more than in others will probably be of 

 interest when the physiological causes underlying proliferation are 

 considored. 



Agricultural Research^ 



Institute, Coimbatore, [ P. S. Jivanna Rao. 



17th October, 1921. ' 



* The Cactaceae by N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose; Cam. Inst. Washing- 

 ton. Pub. Mo. 248, Vol. I, 1919. Also see Year Books of the same Institution 

 1912 to 1915, Fruit development in the Cactaceae by D. S. Johnson. 



